The Best New Camping Gear

Okay, folks, it’s a new year so it’s time to take a look at your camping gear and see what you’re missing. Or if you New Year’s resolution included taking a first time camping trip, now’s the time to get the best new gear on the market. Here are some great products that are hot this year!

One of my favorite camping products this years, hands-down, is the Intense Mosquito Net Covered Hammock Travel Bed. There are so many reasons that I love it, but I’ll try and stick to just a few. First and foremost, anything that gets me up off the ground when I’m sleeping outside is number one in my book. It’s absolutely ideal for those of you who don’t want to carry a bulky tent but want protection from insects when camping or backpacking. The lightweight, breathable hammock is made of strong, olive drab parachute nylon and the fine mesh mosquito netting is built into the hammock, allowing you to sleep soundly and safe from mosquitoes and insects. A spacious and supremely comfortable sleeping bed, the mosquito net is secured with a sturdy zipper and the two included guy ropes allow ample length to hang and support the net section of the hammock way above you for a restful night of sleep in the great outdoors. When you don’t need the mosquito net, just flip the hammock over and use it as a conventional hammock for a nice afternoon nap at the campsite or even in your backyard. When folded into its attached stuff-sack, the hammock is so compact you won’t even know it’s in your backpack. The hammock is approximately 7 1/2’ x 4’, weighs only 24 oz and will hold up to 440 lbs. Included are two steel carabiners, two nylon webbing suspension straps and two hanks of 10’ guy line rope. Believe me, you won’t ever think of your tent again when you camp with the Intense Hammock Travel Bed!

Another one of my favorite products, especially, when you’re solo camping and looking to keep it simple and your pack light, is this compact camping stove. Your fuel is literally just a stone’s throw away and absolutely free of charge! The Trailblazer Wood Burning Stove uses twigs, leaves, pinecones and wood as fuel. Crafted with high quality stainless steel, this portable camping stove will steadily burn bright and has a three-arm base support system. Even the grassiest fields will be your personal cooking countertop and it’s stable even in windy conditions. Easily collapsible and lightweight, this camping stove comes with its own mesh carry bag so you can sling it along and serve up a warm piping meal wherever you’ve set up camp. Alternatively, you can also use solidified alcohol tablets as fuel with the included solid fuel tray. However, for me, why add the extra items to my backpack when I can just use what’s available around my campsite.

That brings me to this little camping tool jewel! When you build a campfire, it’s much easier when you have equipment like a shovel to make your trench around it and a saw to make gathering your fuel easier. The BugOut Multi-Function Folding Entrenchment Tool has it all! Starting from the top, it has a stainless steel shovel head that features a saw, knife, hook knife, cleaver/ruler, wrenches and a bottle opener. The break down, textured handle is made of heavy-duty aluminum and each of the three sections houses a tool including both a flat head and Phillips screwdriver, a saw with a cord cutter and unscrewing the pommel reveals the fire striker/emergency whistle. The pommel also features a compass set into it, just in case you get lost, and lanyard holes provide another carry option. The entrenchment tool is 33” in length when fully put together and a steel lock allows the shovel to be secured into position. The length can be adjusted for need by using either one, two or all three of the sections. It comes housed in a durable nylon pouch with a Velcro closure, belt loop and adjustable strap, plus, a durable nylon sheath for the shovel head is also included. This is the one tool you absolutely cannot live without! The BugOut Multi-Function Folding Entrenchment Tool has functions and features that you need in not only your camping gear but also your vehicle emergency bag and bugout bag.

Ever since I saw it, the Mini Water Filter Straw is, now, my go-to camping and hiking hydration system. It takes up no room in your pack or gear and can just about comfortably fit in your pocket. Then, add to it that it can be used in three different ways, giving you versatility in a variety of situations. The mini water filter can be used directly in the water as a straw, it can be threaded onto a 28mm standard water bottle or it can be attached to the included hanging water bag via the included silicone tube. The medical grade filtration system, which has a hollow fiber UF membrane, will remove 99.99 percent of both bacteria and protozoa and it’s capable of filtering up to 900 gallons of water. The body of the water filter straw is constructed of tough ABS with silicone ring seals and it has a cap to cover the mouthpiece.

And speaking of taking up no room in you backpack, the Nebo Torchy Rechargeable Flashlight is just over 2” in overall length! Honestly, I looked at it and rolled my eyes. Then, I turned it on and was blown away by the 1,000-lumen output! Seriously, inch for inch, it’s the brightest flashlight in the world. The smart power control allows it to seamlessly transition through the four light modes and 1,000-lumen Turbo mode. The four light modes are high, medium, low and strobe, which range from 500 lumens to 50 lumens so that you can adjust for the lighting situation that you need. The powerful Turbo mode can throw light out to 130 meters for 30 seconds. The compact flashlight also has a powerful magnetic base that doubles as the magnetic charging port for the included USB MagCable. The flashlight has an anodized aircraft-grade aluminum construction that’s both water and impact-resistant, and the removable clip provides easy carry or hands-free use as a cap light.